ST. GEORGE – Although rain and lightning caused a special showing of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to be canceled Friday afternoon, the veteran attendees from the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins City still had the chance to see the planes up close and to meet with each of the Blue Angels pilots.

Veteran’s home administrator Jerry Olsen said while there was disappointment the veterans weren’t able to see the Blue Angels perform as part of the Thunder Over Utah Airshow, he was glad they had the opportunity to meet with the pilots.

“They had a good time and were able to shake hands with the pilots,” he said.

Ross Rohm, former member of the U. S. Air Force, said he’d never seen an airshow but enjoyed the experience.

“The pilots I did get to meet were great,” he said.

About 50 of the residents, along with staff and administration, were bused from the Ivins City veterans home Friday afternoon with the help of emergency management buses sent from Veteran’s Affairs in Salt Lake City by its director, Steve Young.

“We were very prepared for this event,” Olsen said.

Despite the temperatures being more than 100 degrees, the residents were still interested in seeing the planes and taking an opportunity to take a trip outside of the veterans home, Olsen said.

“Safety is always first with our residents so we made sure we brought plenty of water and ways to help keep them cool,” he said. “They are excited to be here.”

Taking field trips is part of what keeps the residents at the home excited about living there, Olsen said.

“At the home, we want our residents to have quality of life,” he said. “We want to make life enjoyable and help make them sociable in the community. These residents may be elderly now, but they once led a very active lifestyle, so we try to get them out of the home and this opportunity to see the Blue Angels presented itself.”

Former member of the U.S. Army Air Corps Don Bergevin said he was looking forward to seeing the Blue Angels.

“I’ve seen them before, and they’ve done a good job,” he said.

Terry Dunne, veteran’s home advisory board chairman, said he was glad the veterans had a chance to meet the pilots.

“We are always looking for a way to get our residents out in the community, and this was such a venue that we couldn’t pass up,” he said.

The veterans home still has available spots for new residents and offers free living accommodations for potential residents who suffer from at least 70 percent of a service-related disability, Olsen said.

The home continues to expand its services and is opening a post-acute, short-term treatment wing in August or September, Olsen said.

“Sometimes there is a perception that veterans are not getting what they need, but that hasn’t been my experience at the home,” Olsen noted. “Our staff works hard to make sure care of veterans is their first priority.”